Closure operator



April 9, 1935. c. A. DILLER CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney April 9, 1935. c. A'. DILLER 1,996,860

CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nuento'r gmwawa h Attorney April 9, 1935. c. A. DILLER CLOSURE OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18. 1954 wan Attorney -April 9, 1935. c. A. DILLER CLOSURE OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 18, 1934 I n'uento'r [Zwffarfl 327492 Attorne;

April 9, 1935. c A. DlLLER 1,

CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R I'n'ugntm V r izzzfl Attorney Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE OPERATOR Chester A. Diller, Lancaster, Pa.

Application October 18, 1934, Serial No. 748,930

Claims.

This invention relates to closure operators and more particularly to mechanism for opening and closing garage doors.

Briefly, the invention consists in the provision 5 of a mechanism whereby the doors of a garage may be opened in a somewhat automatic manner and without requiring the operator of the vehicle to leave his position in the vehicle when either entering or leaving the garage.

The present invention involves certain new and useful improvements over the garage door operating mechanism disclosed in Patent No. 1,961,283, granted to me on June 5, 1934, and

entitled Garage door operating mechanism.

The present invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view with certainvparts shown in plan-and other parts in section, and illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional elevational view further illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view showing in longitudinal section front and rear tracks and blocks operating out.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the track assemblies on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 5 and taken at a point spaced relative to the section on which Figure 5 is taken.

Figure 7 is aperspective view of several blocks hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of a track assembly.

Figure 9 is a view showing in perspective front and rear track assemblies and manual operating mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating certain details of construction hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through a portion of a track assembly illus- 50 trating certain details of the mechanism shown in Figure 9.

. Figure 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the mechanism.

Figure 13 is a detail view taken substantially 55 on the line I3i3 of Figure 18.

of the mechanisms associated with one door memher for operating the latter.

Figure 17 is a bottom plan yiew of a carriage. Figure 18 is a top plan view of the carriage. Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates generally a garage of conventional construction which is provided with a pair of sliding doors 2. Extending longitudinally of the garage to a point somewhat in front of the garage is a sunken runway designated generally by the reference numeral 3. The runway 3 is closed by a cover 4 having a longitudinal slot 5 therein. Operable in the runway 3 is a carriage l0 including a frame II which is mounted on supporting wheels l2. Fixed transversely in the frame I is a polygonal shaft l3 having a bearing 6 at an intermediate point upon which the hub portion [5 of a trip lever I6 is journaled, said lever l6 being operable in the slot 5. The hub l5 diametrically opposite to the lever I6 is provided with a weight I which acts to normally retain the lever IS in a vertical or perpendicular position. Slidably mounted on the shaft l3 are spring actuated clutches I! which are operatively engageable with the opposite faces of the hub portion 5 for releasably locking the lever l6 against swinging movement on the bearing 6. The hub portion iii of the lever 16 is provided with radial grooves l8 (see Figure 14) for the reception of the teeth of the clutches.

Mounted longitudinally of the runway 3 at the outer end of the runway, and adjacent opposite sides of the runway is a pair of opposed, substantially shell-like, elongated tracks l9 and 20, while similar opposed tracks |9a and 2011 are mounted at the inner end of the runway 3 (see Figure 1).

Each of the tracks as best shown in Figures 3 and 4 includes an upper runway and a lower runway, the upper runway of the tracks l9 and 20 being designated by the reference numeral 2 i, and of the tracks Na and 2nd by the reference numeral Zla, while the lower runways of the tracks l9 and 20 are indicated by the reference numeral 22, and the lower runways of the tracks 99a and 20a are indicated by the referencev numeral 22a. The. tracks on corresponding sides of the runway 3 are connected by guides 34 as best shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Slidably mounted in the runways ofthe tracks are pairs of blocks, the blocks of the pair operating in the runway 2| being indicated by the reference numerals 23 and 24 respectively and the blocks ofthe pair of blocks operating in the runways 22 being indicated by the reference numerals 25 and 26, respectively. The blocks of the pairs of blocks operating in the runways 2 la are indicated by the reference numerals 23a and 24a respectively while the blocks of the pairs of blocksoperating in the runways 22a are indicated by the reference numerals 25a and 26a respectively (see Figure 3).

Engageable with the blocks 23, 25, 24a and 25a in a manner hereinafter more fully pointed out are angular arms 21 whichare vertically slidable in guides 28 provided on the frame I of the carriage ID. The upper ends of the arms 21 operate in the slots 29 and 30 provided on the confronting sides of the tracks l9 and 20, the slots 29a and 38a provided on the confronting sides of thetracks |9a and 20a, the entrance slots 3| provided at one end of the slots 29, the diagonal slots 32 and 33 connecting adjacent ends of the slots 29 and 30, the slots 34a in the guides 34 connecting the slots 39 with the slots 30a and the diagonal slots 32a and 33a connecting the adjacent ends of the slots 29a and 30a; the arrangement of slots being best shown in Figure 2.

The aforementioned blocks 24, 26, 23a and 2641 are grooved as at 35 to clear to the free ends of the arms 21 permitting the arms to move relative to the mentioned blocks and into engagement with the blocks 23, 25, 24a and 25a as will be understood from a consideration of Figures 3, 4 and 16.

For each door 2 there is provided an outer substantially triangular arrangement of sheaves 36, 31, and 38; and an inner similar arrangement of sheaves 36a, 31a, and 38a. The arrangement of the sheaves will be best seen in Figure 1. In the plane of the hypotenuse of each triangular arrangement of sheaves is a suitably mounted rack bar, the rack bar for the first arrangement of sheaves 36,31, and 38 being indicated by the reference numeral 39, and the rack bar for thesecond series of sheaves being indicated by the reference numeral 39a. The rack bars are provided at each end with a series of rack teeth engageable, in the case of the bar 39, with rack wheels 40 fixed to the axes of the sheaves 31 and 38, and in the case of the rack bar 39a with ratchet wheels 4011 fixed to the axes of the sheaves 31a and 38a.

Each triangular arrangement of sheaves further includes a door opening cable 4| which at one end is secured as at 42 to the lower edge of a door 2 and which, at its opposite end, is secured, in the case of one of the cables 4|, to the sheave 31 and is windable on the sheave, while in the case of the other ofthe cables 4| it is secured to the sheave 31a and is windable thereon. Also secured to a windable on the sheaves 38 and 38a are cables 43, of which the cable 43 associated with the sheave 38, is secured to one end of the block 23 while in the case of the cable 43 associated with the sheave 38a the said cable is secured at one end to the block 24d.

Each set of inner and outer pulleys or sheaves includes a third or door closing cable 44 secured at one end to the door 2 as at 45, and in the case of the cable 44of the outer set of sheaves, said cable is trained on the sheave 36 and secured to the block 25. The cable 44 associated with the inner series of sheaves is trained over sheave 36a and is secured to block 25a.

Secured at one end to each block 24 and extending through an opening 23b provided in the companion block 23 is a cable 46 trained over suitably mounted and located pulleys 41- and equipped at its free end with a weight 48. A similar take-up cable 49 is secured at one end to each block 26, extends through an opening in companion block 25 corresponding to. the opening in the block 23, is trained over a suitably arranged pulley41' and is equipped at its free end with a weight 50. In this connection, it will also be understood that the blocks 23a and 26a are provided with similarly arranged and weightequipped cables as are the blocks 24 and 26.

For preventing, in a releasable manner, return movement of the blocks 23 and 24 operating in each upper run 2|, said run at one end is provided with hinged run section 52, while for the same purpose with regard to the block 23a and 24, each run 2|a is provided at one end in a similar manner with a hinged run section 52a. Likewise, at the end thereof farthest remote from the run section 52, each lower run 22 is provided with a hinged run section 53 and each lower run section 2241 is similarly provided with a hinged run section 53a. At the free ends of the run sections, each run is provided with a stop shoulder 54 as best shown in Figure 4.

For levelling the run sections with their respective runs, the frame ll of carriage I is provided with opposed cams 55 that are cooperable with cam followers 56 and 5641 respectively pivoted to the runs 53 and 53a respectively so as to swing in one direction only, and with cam followers 51 and 51a respectively associated with the run sections 52 and 52a through the medium of frames 58 of the type shown and which are connected to the respective run sections 52 and 52a as best shown in Figure cam followers 51 and 51a being respectively pivoted to their associated frames 58 to swing only in one direction.

For simultaneously levelling the runways 52,

52a, 53 and 53a the aforementioned hinged r1m Assuming that the doors to the vehicle are closed and the vehicle entering the runway leading to the garage is moving forwardly to enter the garage. As the vehicle proceeds, the front bumper thereof' will strike the upper end of the trip lever I6, and by reason of the clutches |1 engaged with the hub |5 of said lever to hold the lever against rocking movement, the carriage l9 will be caused to move forwardly toward the left in Figure 2. As the carriage It! moves forwardly in this manner, the arms 21 will engage the blocks 23 for unwinding the cables 43 and at the same time cause a clock-wise rotation of the pulley 38 which will through the medium of the rack bar 39 and the rack wheels 40 cause a rotation of the pulley 31 for winding the cable 4| thereon and causing the associated door 2 to slide to an open position.

Also, as the carriage moves inwardly it will be understood that cams 55 engaging-the cam followers 56 will cause the runway sections 53 to swing upwardly to a level position with the runways 22 andby reason of the connection between the runway sections all of said sections will move upwardly to a position level with their respective 54 and thereby secure the doors 2 in open position to permit the vehicle to pass into the garage. The doors will remain open as the carriage l0 propelled by the vehicle moves the distance separating the inner ends of the trackways I9, 20 from the ends of the trackways Na, and 20a. During the movement of the carriage between said ends of the trackways the arms 21 will operate in the slots 34a provided in the guides 34 so as to pass into the slots 30a as the vehicle continues its movement inwardly of the garage.

As the arms 21 move into the slots 30a said arms will engage the blocks 25a which at that time will be located at the forward end of the runways 22a. As the blocks 25a and 26a move toward the inner ends of the trackways Mia and 2041, being propelled by the arms 21 engaged with the carriage In, and blocks 23a and 24a being released to move in a corresponding direction with the blocks 25a and 26a by reason of the engagement of the cams with the cam followers 51a and the consequent pivoting of the links 69 to elevate the runways 52a, the doors 2 will be caused to slide to a closed position behind the vehicle entering the garage. As the blocks 25a and 26a approach the inner ends of the runway 22a they will come to rest on the runway sections 53a which, after the cams 55 on the carriage pass beyond the cam followers 56a, will drop down to the position shown in Figure 3 so that the blocks 25a and 26a will engage behind the adjacent shoulder 54 and thereby releasably secure the doors 2 in closed position.

In connection with the above, it will be also noted that as the carriage l0 approaches either end of the runway 3 pins 60 depending from the clutch member i7 will engage blocks 62 located at the bottom of the runway in a manner to cause the clutch member I! to move laterally in reverse direction out of engagement with the hub l5 thereby freeing the lever l6 permitting the same to rotate sufficiently to allow the bumper of the automobile to pass out of engagement with the lever.

For the purpose of re-engaging the clutch member I! with the hub E5 of the lever I6 after a release of the automobile bumper and lever it there are located in the ends of the runway 3 springs S that act on the carriage ill to project the latter inwardly beyond the inner end of the blocks 82, and obviously upon movement of the carriage inwardly the pins 6% move out of engagement with the blocks 62 and the clutch member ll move inwardly into engagement with the hub l5 of the lever to secure the lever in vertical upstanding position. Thus the parts are recessed for the next door opening and closing operation.

For automatically opening the doors 2 to permit the automobile to move out of the garage the operations above described are reversed, initial movement of the carriage acting by reason of the engagement of the cams 55 with followers 56a to release the blocks 25a and 26a, and simultaneously with the release of blocks 25a and 26a the blocks 23 and 2G so that all the blocks are free to move to permit an opening of the doors 2 as the vehicle is backed out of the garage,

As suggested in Figure 8 there is provided at the upper ends of the diagonal slots 32 and 32a pivoted top elements 68 which serve to close the upper ends of said slots upon passage of the lateral ends of the arms 21 from said slots into aligned slots 29 and 3| so as to prevent said arms 21 re-entering the slots 32 as the arms move to the extreme ends of the slots 3| as is required for disengagement of the lever IS with the bumper of the automobile after the automobile has passed wholly out of the garage, and upon movement of the arms 21 toward the extreme end of the slot extension Me as is necessary to eflfect a release of the lever I6 when th vehicle is wholly within the garage.

Means is also provided for manually elevating the runway sections 52, 52a, 53, and 53a to release the blocks when it is desired to manually open or close either or both of the doors. Such means for each door consists of an operating cable 63 provided with an actuating ring 64 that normally rests on the outer surface of the runway cover 4. The cable 63 extends longitudinally of the runway 3, being trained over suitably arranged pulleys 85 and 66. The cable 63 is suitably connected with pins 61 with which the runway sections adjacent their free ends are provided as shown in Figure 11 so that upon an upward pull of the ring 64 said sections will be swung upwardly into a position level with their respective or associated runways in a manner to free all of the blocks on one side of runway 3 to permit a sliding of the proper door 2 to an opened or closed position.

While I have herein illustrated the invention as used for opening and closing garage doors, and as being operable by an automobile, it will be understood that the invention may be employed equally as well for opening and closing gates,

and is capable of being operated byany suitablefor moving the latter along the runs of the tracks,

door opening mechanism, and operating connections between said mechanism and the blocks for opening and closing the doors incidental to a movement of the carriage along said runway.

2. A mechanism of the class described for operating garage doors comprising a runway, tracks mounted in the runway, said tracks having upper and lower runs, blocks operating in said runs, a carriage operable in the runway, means carried by the carriage and engageable with the blocks for moving the latter along the runs of the tracks, door opening mechanism, and operating connections between said mechanism and the blocks for opening and closing the doors incidental to a movement of the carriage along said runway, the runs of said tracks having pivoted sections depressible by the weight of the blocks thereon. in a manner to releasably secure the blocks against movement for locking the doors in open and closed positions, and means controlled by the movement of the carriage along the runway for swinging the track run sections upwardly to release said blocks and thereby permit a movement of the doors to either open or closed condition optionally.

3. A mechanism of the class described for operating garage doors comprising a runway, tracks mounted in the runway, said tracks having upper and lower runs, blocks operating in said runs, a carriage operable in the runway, means carried by the carriage and engageable with the blocks for moving the latter along the runs of the tracks, door opening mechanism, and operating connec-, tions between said mechanism and the blocks for opening and closing the door incidental to a movement of the carriage along said runway, the runs of said tracks having pivoted sections depressible by the weight of the blocks thereon in a manner to releasably secure the blocks against movement for locking the doors in open and closed position, and means controlled by the movement of the carriage along the runway for swinging the track run sections upwardly to release said blocks and thereby permit amovement of the doors to either open or closed position optionally, and means for operatively connecting the carriage to a passing vehicle for actuation thereby.

4. A mechanism of the class described for operating garage doors comprising a runway, tracks mounted in the runway, said tracks being provided with upper and lower runs having pivoted sections, blocks slidable in the runs of the tracks, garage door operating mechanism connected with the doors of the garage and located adjacent said runway, means operatively connecting said door operating mechanism with the blocks for actuating said mechanism to open and close the doors,

means on the carriage engageable with the blocks for moving the latter along the tracks, the pivoted run sections being depressible by the weight of the blocks in a manner to retain the blocks,

releasably, against movement to lock the doors in either open or closed position, means operatively connecting the pivoted run sections for simultaneous operation, and means on the carriage for actuating said last mentioned means to release the blocks to permit movement of the doors to open or closed position, and means for operatively connectingthe carriage to a passing vehicle for actuation thereby, said last named means including clutch means for releasing the carriage when the latter has moved to either end of the runway.

5. A mechanism of the class described for operating garage doors comprising a runway, tracks mounted in the runway, said tracks having upper and lower runs, blocks operating in said runs, a carriage operable in the runway, means carried by the carriage and engageable with the blocks for moving the latter along the runs of the tracks, door opening mechanism, and operating connections between said mechanism and the blocks for opening and closing the doors incidental to a movement of the carriage along said runway, means within the runs of the tracks for engaging the blocks for holding the door in either of two positions, and manual means for simultaneously releasing the blocks to permit opening and closing of the doors independently of the carriage controlled mechanism.

6. In a door operating mechanism, a trackway having upper and lower runs each provided at one end with a pivoted run section, a door operating mechanism, blocks movable along the track in said upper and lower runs thereof, means operatively connecting the blocks with the door operating mechanism, said pivoted run sections being depressible by the weight of the blocks thereon for releasably securing the blocks against movement, and means for elevating the pivoted run sections to release the blocks to permit movement of the door to either open or closed position.

'7. In a door operating mechanism, a trackway having upper and lower runs each provided at one end with a pivoted run section, a door operating mechanism, blocks movable along the track in said upper and lower runs thereof, means operatively connecting the blocks with the door operating mechanism, said pivoted run sections being depressible by the weight of the blocks thereon for releasably securing the blocks against movement, and means for elevating the pivoted runs sections to release the blocks to permit movement of the doors to either open or closed position, said means including a pivoted link, means pivotally connecting said link with the pivoted run sections, and means for swinging said link about its pivot to elevate the pivoted run sections.

8. A door operating mechanism including a triangular arrangement of pulleys, a door opening cable windable on one of the pulleys and connected at one end with the door, a door closing cable windable on a second one of the pulleys and connected at one end. with the door, rack and pinion means connecting the first and third pulleys for transmitting movement from one to the other of said first and third pulleys, a trackway provided with upper and lower runs, a pair of blocks operating in the upper run of said trackway, a cable on the third pulley and connected with one of said blocks, a weight equipped take-up cable connected at one end with the other of said blocks, a second pair of blocks operating in the lower runway of said track, said door closing cable having one end connected with one of the second blocks, a weight equipped take-up cable connected with the other of said second blocks, and means engageablewith said blocks for moving them along the trackway, movement of the first mentioned pair of blocks in one direction operating to open the door, and movement of the second pair of blocks in one direction operating to close the door.

9. A door operating mechanism including a triangular arrangement of pulleys, a door opening cable windable on one of the pulleys and connected at one end with the door, a door closing cable windable on a second one of the pulleys and connected at one end with the door, rack and pinion means connecting the first and third pulleys for transmitting movement from one to the other of said first and third pulleys, a trackway provided with upper and lower runs, a pair of blocks operating in the upper run of said trackway, a cable on the third pulley and connected with one of said blocks, a weight equipped takeup cable connected at one end with the other of said blocks, a second pair of blocks operating in the lower runway of said track, said door closing cable having one end connected with one of the second blocks, a weight equipped take-up cable connected with the other of said second blocks,

' and means engageable with said blocks for moving them along the trackway, movement of the first mentioned pair of blocks in one direction operating to open the door, and movement of the second pair of blocks in one direction operating to close the door, and means for engaging the blocks with the ends of their respective runways for locking the doors.

10. A door operating mechanism including a triangular arrangement of pulleys, a door opening cable windable on one of the pulleys and connected at one with the door, a door closing cable windable on a second one of the pulleys and connected at one end with the door, rack and pinion means connecting the first and third pulleys for transmitting movement from one to the other of said first and third pulleys, a trackway provided with upper and lower runs, a. pair of blocks operating in the upper run of said trackway, a cable on the third pulley and connected with one of said blocks, a weight equipped take-up cable connected at one end with the other of said blocks, a second pair of blocks operating in the lower runway of said track, said door closing cable having one end connected with one of the second blocks, a weight equipped take-up cable connected with the other of said second blocks, and means engageable with said blocks for moving them along the trackway, movement of the first mentioned pair of blocks in one direction operating to open the door, and movement of the second pair of blocks in one direction operating to close the door, and means for engaging the blocks with the ends of their respective runways for locking the doors, and means for simultaneously releasing all of the blocks.

CI-lES'I'ER A. DILLER. 

